Newark Bears ~ Trying To Claw Their Way Back Above .500

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE



NEWARK BEARS:  Even Series With Quebec; Game Three Tonight.


The Bears have played the Quebec Capitales well this season.  And they continued Friday night with a win against Quebec in game two of a four game series up in the Great White North.


After getting shut-out 4-0 Thursday night in the series opener, it took eleven innings to gain victory Friday.  Three runs in the top of the frame sealed the deal for visiting Newark and spoiled things for the home crowd.  Sacre Bleu!  The game was a step in the right direction against a good team, as the Bears are struggling to get above .500 again.  They are currently two games under the mark and perhaps they can get things going in a more positive direction during the rest of this trip in Canada.


I guess you can say; Bears' starter; Alex Smith did it again.  He walked a bunch of batters; which is his custom; but yet, was relatively effective over 5.2 innings.  Quebec scored one time in the second inning.  The Bears staked Alex Smith to a 3-1 lead after five innings on RBI singles by Brad Jackson and Brandon Watson.  Then Alex got into trouble in the bottom of the sixth and surrendered the tying runs.


Newarks' bullpen was stellar and kept the Capitales scoreless in relief of Smith until Quebec scored one time in the bottom of the 11th inning.  Anthony Pluta; TJ Hose; and Matt Fitton; combined on four innings; no runs; two hits; 2 walks; and five strikeouts.  Newly signed Gregory Lane finished the game for Newark.  He allowed Quebec one run, but was credited with the win.


Back-to-back doubles by Brandon Watson and Paddy Matera drove home all three Newark runs in the top of the 11th inning to get the Bears on the winning side.

TONIGHT

Canadian/American League of Baseball

GAME THREE of FOUR

NEWARK BEARS (1-1)

vs.

Quebec Capitales (1-1)

From

North of the Border, Canada

 

MIKE.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Ninth Inning Win On Father's Day

From the desk of:  The Brick City Sluggers


NEWARK BEARS:  Paddy Matera Delivers A Ninth Inning Single To Salvage Game Three In Series Against Brockton Rox.


On Riverfront Stadium -

"Just about any ball hit in the air can leave the park at any time!" - in 7th inning.

That quip came later in the game.  Earlier, my new favorite announcer took exception with the Bears' bullpen.  Not their pitchers; he had a problem with not knowing who was warming up for the Bears at any given time because in Riverfront Stadium, the bullpen is "completely obscured" from view.


He didn't start in on the bullpen pitchers till the eighth when he began questioning how long Tim Raines Sr. was leaving Anthony Pluta in the game during a 6-6 game (at the time).

"He's known to do anything at anytime...."

"No sign of Tim Raines from the Newark dugout."

But he got a few things right today.  Tim Raines Sr. allowed Brockton to retake the lead at 7-6; and Newark killed themselves with sloppy fielding.


Newark got on the board right away. Tim Raines Jr. doubled in the first inning with two outs and Daryle Ward drove him home with a single.   But Brockton scored a run in the second to tie things at one.


In the third inning, Daryle Ward doubled with the bases loaded, delivering two more Bears across the plate for a 3-1 lead.


Paddy Matera homered in the fourth for his seventh of the season.  In the fifth, with Burt Reynolds at-bat and Tim Raines Jr. on third base, Brockton's Freddy Flores unleashed a wild pitch allowing Raines to score and giving the Bears a 5-1 lead.


They were cruising and in seemingly in control through five innings.  Then Brockton knotted this game in the top of the sixth with a two run home run followed by Todd Gossage's error which led to two more unearned Brockton runs.


The Bears' implosion continued in the seventh.  An overthrown ball by Bears' catcher; Eric McGee; led to another unearned run and a 6-5 Brockton lead.  But the Bears showed resiliency when they tied the game again at six apiece.  Tim Raines Jr. hit one of his many doubles on the day and was driven home by a Danny Santiesteban single.


The two teams traded runs again in the eighth to make it a 7-7 game.  Juan Martinez drove home Paddy Matera with the Bears' eighth inning run.


In the home ninth, Newark got a runner in scoring position after Burt Reynolds was hit by a pitch and advanced to second.  Todd Gossage drew an intentional walk with two outs.  Paddy Matera worked his way to a 3-1 count then delivered a game winning single for an 8-7 Bears' win.


The two team are now tied again for second place overall in the CanAm League behind Quebec.


Can you see the bullpen now? 


Somehow, Coach Raines found his way to gut it out with Anthony Pluta during a rocky 2.1 innings of patience testing and lead blowing while his counter-part; Brockton manager Bill Buckner; went through five pitchers trying to stop Tim Raines Jr. and Daryle Ward from going 6 for 8 this afternoon, with three runs scored and three RBI between them. 


But Anthony Pluta's team mates; Kyle Morrison working the ninth inning with 2 strikeouts; and Paddy Matera; 2 for 2, HR, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI; were there to pick up Coach Raines; starter Victor Gonzalez; and all the Bears from what could have been a dreadful loss to their Massachusetts rival.



NEXT UP FOR THE BEARS:

Four Game Series vs. Worcester Tornadoes @ Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.





Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Brockton Rocks In Return To The Den

From the desk of:  GROWLING IN BROOKLYN



NEWARK BEARS:  Brockton Provides A Rude Return To Riverfront Stadium For Bears.

After a rather successful road trip to Massachusetts and an off day Thursday, the Bears' return home to The Den wasn't quite what Newark had in mind.  There were no jars of honey waiting on the dinner table; nor puppy-like creatures happy to see master again.  Instead, Brockton showed up at Riverfront Stadium's door armed with bats and a complete lack of respect for being in some one's else's house.  You know how Friday night party crashers can be.


The Newark fans were supposed to greet their team with cheers upon them returning from their first ever CanAm visit to Massachusetts in triumph, having been victorious in two consecutive series wins.  And after a 2-1 first inning lead, they did just that; cheer.  But jeers quickly found their seats and settled in to watch as Brockton pounded the Bears early; often; and late; once they began play after a two and half hour rain delay.


Brockton scored one in the first and three more in the third inning.  Then, The Den's roof just caved in under the weight of eleven more Brockton runs.  That seven run fifth inning seemed like too much for Newark to recover from.


With the score 15-5 by the seventh inning, hibernation would have been an acceptable option at this point.  More torrential rain would have been OK too.


Now, either the Bears are starting to face better pitching with most teams having played 20 games or so, or the Newark hitters, like Raines Jr; Alvino; and even Santiesteban are starting to come down to earth a bit.  Tim Raines Jr. has cooled off considerably in his last three games or so after maintaining a torrid streak that kept his batting average above .400 for a spell.


Then while I was putting this together, other Bears stepped up and started to radically change the complexion of this game.  They scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Daryle Ward smashed his ninth home run of the season; a solo shot.  With one out, Burt Reynolds jacked another solo home run; his seventh.  Gossage was hit by a pitch and Matera singled setting up Brandon Watson's single for another Bears' run.  Then, shortstop Juan Martinez tripled, scoring Watson and Matera making it a 15-11 game with two more innings to go in the game.


Continuing to claw back, the Bears gamely picked up one more run in the eighth inning making it a
15-12 game now.


But in the top of the ninth and final frame, Brockton had about a much as they cared to put up with tonight.  They came to Newark intent on busting up the Bears and retaliated for Newark's little show of resiliency by scoring two more runs in their top half for good measure.  And it's a good thing for them they did.  Because the Bears showed still yet a little more fight in them by taking those two runs back.  But they still ended up three runs short by the time this 17-14 contest was finally over.


Newark's starter; Jesse Estrada, suffered and allowed the brunt of the damage incurred by the Bears tonight.  In 4.2 innings pitched, he relinquished twelve hits and eleven runs.


Tonight's result aside, so far, this is shaping up into a marvelous rivalry.


Quebec has won 9 out of their last ten games and continue to sport the Leagues best record.  Newark's record after Friday night's loss drops to 13-8, which is still second best in the League, but four games behind the Capitales.


Game two of this three game series with Brockton is tomorrow; Saturday - 6:35pm.




Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Looking For A Win Before Heading Home

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN




NEWARK BEARS:  Rubber Game Versus Worcester Tornadoes.

The Worcester Tornadoes blew back in the face of the Bears Tuesday night with a 2-0 white-washing of Newark.  Four Tornado pitchers combined on a five hit shut-out.


Tornadoes' winning pitcher; Kevin Cooper; pitched five innings of four hit ball.  He walked three Bears and struck out two before giving way to the bullpen. 


In four innings the bullpen allowed only one hit; walked one and struck out three.  Those three strikeouts came in the eighth inning when Albert Ayala struck out the side.  Rick Asadoorian pitched the ninth against Newark and picked up his third save of the season.


Bears' starting pitcher; Victor Gonzalez picked up the loss.  In the third inning, Worcester touched him for three singles as he also uncorked a wild pitch that led to the Tornadoes' first run of the game.  He left the game after the sixth on the losing side of a 1-0 game.  Gonzalez struggled with control as he walked six batters and allowed five hits.


TJ Hose allowed Worcesters' only other run in relief of Victor Gonzalez in the seventh.


Only Newark's Paddy Matera was able size up Worcester's pitching in game two of the three game series.  Paddy was 2 for 3.  The meat of the batting order; Tim Raines Jr.; Daryle Ward; Danny Santiesteban; and Billy Alvino were a combined 1 for 12 against the Tornadoes.


The rubber game of this series is tonight.  They'll have an off day tomorrow before starting a series against Brockton back home in Newark.







Mike.BTB

NEWARK BEARS ~ Find Worcester To Their Liking

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN

Newark Bears:  Brick City Nine Gain Victory In First Trip To Worcester.


FINAL:
Newark Bears 6;  Worcester Tornadoes 2

Pitching!

Pitching; pitching; pitching.  Thank you!  Good night Worcester.

Well..., basically.



Aaron Kalb won his first game in two tries as the Bears gained victory over the Tornadoes in Newark's first ever trip to Worcester.  It was the Bears, behind seven strong innings pitched by Kalb, who blew into Worcester and disturbed the Massachusetts night.  Kyle Morrison relieved Kalb with two innings of scoreless work.


Aaron Kalb's Line:
7 ~ innings.
5 ~ hits.
2 ~ runs; earned.
2 ~ walks.
4 ~ strikeouts.

Kyle Morrison; relief:
2 ~ innings.
1 ~ hit.
0 ~ runs.
1 ~ walk.
2 ~ strikeouts.


Brandon Watson led-off the game for Newark with a single.  Number two hitter, Kyle LaMotta, then lost an 0-2 pitch over the wall for a two run home run.  Worcester came back with a pair of runs in the third to tie the game at two.


Billy Alvino scored on a Paddy Materra sac fly in the fourth inning for the go ahead run, and a lead the Bears would keep.


For good measure, the Bears put together a three run rally in the fifth inning.  Consecutive singles by Raines Jr, Ward, and Santiesteban plated one run when Raines scored on Santiesteban's hit.  A ruinous error by Worcester's shortstop; Boomer Blanchard; allowed both Daryle Ward and Danny Santiesteban to score.  That made it a 6-2 game.  The Bears' pitching took care of the rest.


Danny Santiesteban's RBI was his 17th, and places him second behind teammate Tim Raines Jr.'s 21 for the League lead.


The Bears are now 8-2 in their last ten games.  They improved their season record Monday night to
12-6 which places them a game behind Quebec as the League's best.


The Quebec Capitales, at 12-4, have as many wins as the Bears but with two less losses.  They are also winners of eight out of their last ten games, and are riding a four game win streak.  They were inactive Monday.

Game two of this three game series between the Bears and Tornadoes is Tuesday night.




Mike.BTB

NEWARK BEARS ~ Win Fifth Straight Versus N.Y. Federals

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN

The Trolley Went To Newark For Today's Game.

 

NEWARK BEARS:  Complete Five Game Sweep Over New York Federals In Monday Matinee.

FINAL:

New York Federals....2

Newark Bears.............8

Newark used four pitchers Monday against the New York Federals.  Bears' starter Jesse Estrada allowed the only three hits New York would get all day.


In the top of the third inning, an error by Jeff Toth and a wild pitch by Estrada led to the Feds scoring two unearned runs for an early 2-0 lead.  But that was all they'd get.  The Bears used the long ball and shut down pitching Monday afternoon to complete a five game sweep over the N.Y. Federals.

#51 - Jesse Estrada's Line:

6 ~ innings.
86 pitches; 57 strikes.
3 ~ hits.
2 ~ runs.
0 ~ earned runs.
1 ~ walk.
6 ~ strikeouts.





Kyle Morrison; TJ Hose; and Mikey Mehlich all threw an inning each in relief of Estrada.  They combined to allow no runs; no hits; one walk and two strikeouts.


The Bears decided to address New York's 2-0 lead in the home fifth.  With one out, Paddy Matera reached on an error by the first baseman.  Brandon Watson singled Matera to third base.  Number two batter, Kyle LaMotta singled, scoring Matera and advancing Watson to second.  Tim Raines singled.  Brandon Watson scored when Daryle Ward lofted a sac-fly to left tying the game at two.


After a double steal executed by Kyle LaMotta to third and Raines Jr. following to second base, Danny Santiesteban was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Danny was not at all please with the pitch and expressed his displeasure with the Fed's hurler; even pointing at him at one point.  The situation quickly diffused until the next batter, Jeff Toth, was also plunked with a pitch.  This one however forced in LaMotta from third and gave the Bears a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.

#2 - Tim Raines Jr.

Brandon Watson had an RBI in the sixth inning.  But the Bears broke out for another four runs in the eighth frame.  Tim Raines Jr. crushed a three run home run, and two batters later, Danny Santiesteban delivered another four-bagger to give the Bears an 8-2 lead.

#28 - Danny Santiesteban

GALLERY

 

First Pitch; Lead-off batter ~ #1 - Brandon Watson

(Left) #5 - Kyle LaMotta  ~  (Right) #33 - Daryle Ward

#44 - Jeff Toth

3B - Todd Gossage

(Left) #31 - Billy Alvino  ~  (Right) #10 - Paddy Matera

 

Tim Raines Jr. is on deck as Tim Raines Sr. looks on.

Ron Karkovice and Tim Raines.

Victory.

EXTRA INNINGS:

 

Up Next for Newark:

The New Jersey Jackals come to Newark Tuesday as they resume their Essex County Executive Challenge Series.




Mike.BTB

NEWARK BEARS ~ Scratch Out Victory In Ninth Inning

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN



LINK:   Newark Bears

NEWARK BEARS:  After Blowout Victory Thursday, Bears Scratch Out Win In Ninth Inning Tonight.

FRIDAY FINAL:
New York Federals....7
Newark Bears.............8

A truly entertaining game in Newark on this late Friday afternoon.


The Bears were cruising again leading 3-0 after three innings played. 

In the second inning, Daryle Ward led off with a triple.  The next batter, Danny Santiesteban, promptly drove him in with a single.  After Santiesteban advanced to second on an error by N.Y. Feds' pitcher Giuseppe Granito, the struggling Todd Gossage made good with an RBI driving in Santiesteban from second with a single for a 2-0 Newark lead.  The Bears tacked on a third run when N.Y.'s Giussepe Granito was charged with his second error of the game which eventually led to an unearned run for Newark in the third inning.

In the top of the fourth frame, the Federals struck back and touched Newark starter Ryan Lobban for three runs off three hits to tie the game at three.

With the preliminaries out of the way, this game really got started with Newark's next at-bat.  In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bears struck for four runs while sending Fed's pitcher Granito to an early shower after pitching 3.1 innings for New York.

With one out, Newark DH Burt Reynolds singled.  Todd Gossage then collected his second hit of the game.  Hot hitting Billy Alvino likewise, promptly singled to drive in Reynolds.  Paddy Matera-(2B) drew a walk to load the bases with Bears.  Then the big blow.  Brandon Watson cleared the bases with a triple putting the Bears up 7-3.

The teams traded zeroes on the scoreboard over the next three innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, the Feds mounted another comeback.  Three runs scored had the Federals within a one of the Bears.  Newark pitcher Kyle Morrison got touched up for three hits and all three runs.

The top of the ninth could have been viewed as a bad omen.  A wild pitch put a Federal runner in scoring position who was quickly driven in by an Andrew Barbaro single.  And this game was now tied an in threat of slipping away from Newark

But the Bears had last licks and made the most of their chance.  To lead off the home ninth, Tim Raines Jr. was hit by a pitch and taken out of the game.  Kyle LaMotta, pinch running for Raines advanced to second on a 3-1 FC.  Daryle Ward was intentionally walked.  Both runners advance on a Santiesteban sacrifice fly.  Burt Reynolds then singled home Kyle LaMotta from third for the Bears game winning run.

The Newark bullpen wasn't nearly up to the task this afternoon.  Kyle Morrison and Mikey Mehlich combined for three innings; six hits; and four runs allowed (one walk and two strikeouts) to let the New York Federals back into the game.  But because the Bears were able to string together a couple of hits in the ninth and win, these types of implosions often go over-looked and Mikey Mehlich earns a win.


It was good to see Todd Gossage get two RBI and a couple of hits.  He needs the confidence boost right now.

No word yet about Tim Raines Jr. leaving the game.  He was 0 for 3 today with one RBI.


The Newark Bears have now evened their record at 4-4 for the season.  Their .500 winning percentage also leap-frogs them into fourth for the moment; two and a half games back of first.


Bear lead five series vs. Federals two games to none.

Next game:   Saturday, June 4 ~ N.Y. FEDERALS @ NEWARK BEARS



Mike.BTB